In this highly anticipated new season, we see Rick and the group of survivors fostering a thriving community in the safe haven of the prison. Sadly, in this brutal world, happiness is short-lived and walkers and outside threats are no match for danger brewing inside the fences. The groupâs home and new way of life will be thoroughly tested, and their struggle to survive has never been so perilous.

I am a self-professed survival nut and love the whole zombie apocalpyse thing but do not let that colour the fact that this show, and all its seasons to-date, are a collective, ever evolving piece of sheer dramatic brilliance.

The zombies and the apocalpyse merely serve as a foil to allow the development of some of the hardest questions one could pose humanity, how the harshest imaginable conditions force a transformation of everyday civilians into, well, whatever they have to be in order to survive. In a world where the lines between right and wrong and irretrievably blurred, almost every protagonists' moral compass is sent spiralling in various scenarios and set-pieces that never lose their individuality or suspense. We see folks revert to killers as mindless as the zombies, those who desperately try to cling to the final vestiges of humanitarian morality and everything in between.

The acting is superb throughout, particularly by the lead, Lincholn who desperately tries to retain his values as Sheriff of a town ravaged by 'the infection.' A man who risked his life to uphold the law, suddenly faced with a law-less society overnight. His character development along with virtually every other protagonist is utterly gripping. His young son Carl, for instance, who over the course of the four seasons is forced to spend his early adolescence 'growing' up in this desolate, frenzied world fraught with mortal danger at every turn, is another example of fascinating character development.

My only qualms are with the number of characters they keep killing off! This makes sense given the nature of the environment they find themselves in but seriously guys give it a break!!

A five disc dvd box set, which contains all sixteen forty minute long episodes of the fourth season of the Walking Dead. A show about people struggling to survive after the world is overrun by Zombies.

There are four episodes to each of the first four discs. And there are extras on the fifth.

As with previous seasons, it does take storylines from the comic on which it is based, but it does go it's own way with them. So it's a very loose adaptation.

Although this season's opener might just work as a jumping on point, the amount of backstory built up by now does mean it's better to start with season one instead.

The language and subtitle options are as follows:

Languages: English.Subtitles: English.

Given that the show has a mid season break when it airs on tv, this season is structured pretty much as two individual seasons of eight episodes each. The first eight pick up the story months after the end of season three. With life in the Prison where the group are now holed up going quite well. There are new people there. They're trying to grow crops and farm. There's also no sign of their foe the governor.

This starts off some character arcs that play out well over the season. Carl thinking he's grown up now but still not quite able to shake childhood. Rick having to step back from leading and fighting. Daryl being part of a group.

And other characters have similar things to confront of their own.

Of course it can't stay peaceful forever. Thanks to a threat they didn't see coming.

The first five episodes deal with this. Strong character moments result. Plenty of zombie fighting. And some impressive set pieces. It's a season that uses it's budget very well.Read more ›

This season starts off months after Season 3 and the survivors have been living in peace at the prison. Unfortunately a fast acting flu type sickness spreads the prison killing most of the newcomers and extras. Its not long until only a handful are still fit enough to arm up against the Governor who returns seeking both revenge and the sanctuary of the prison with more recruitments to his army.

I personally felt that episode 8 of this season should have been the Season 3 finale with the Governor finally beaten. It felt like an unwanted intrusion in season 4. The sickness storyline was more than enough for Rick's group to handle.

As another reviewer mentioned the deaths continue and sometimes it a shame to see long standing characters bite the dust especially characters that still have potential but it does get tiresome losing familar faces for newbies all the time.

There are some great episodes like Carol centric episode "The Grove" and some fantastic set pieces such as the zombies dropping from the roof of the shopping centre in the opening episode.

The back episodes of this season are more character based. Having escaped the rubble of the prison the survivors have all been split up into groups and each episode focuses on each group. Some characters such as Bob and Beth are finally given some development. The finale sees some of these groups come together at Terminus which isn't exactly what they think it will be....

The DVD is packed with extras including interviews, featurettes and commentary tracks on selected episodes (Some of the cast are involved in these - Hershal, Beth, Darryl, Carol and Tyreese).